Shaft locking arrangement



Feb. 15,1955

J. H STAAK SHAFT LOCKING ARRANGEMENT Filed Aug. 31, 1953 T7M HASAttorney SHAFT LOCKING ARRANGEMENT Julius H. Stank, Fort Wayne, Ind.,asslgnor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New YorkApplication August 31, 1953, Serial No. 377,425 Claims. '(Cl. 188-69several different tools at the end of a motor-driven rotatable shaft.This is usually achieved by threading the end of the shaft, slipping atool over the shaftagamst a collar in the housing, placing a stop collaragainst the tool, and then tightening a nut on the threaded portion ofthe shaft to hold the tool and the stop collar m place.

To change tools the nut is taken off, the tool and stop collar areremoved, another tool and the sto collar are replaced on the shaft, andthe nut is tightens again. To

rform this operation it is necessary that the shaft 5: prevented fromrotation and, where the nut has been tightened at all excessively, thatthe shaper be held firmly; since an operator must use one hand to holdthe shaper and the other hand to manipulate a tool to remove the nut itis desirable that there be some simple means of locking the shaftagainst rotation which mil require no attention from the operator.

An object of this invention is therefore to provide a lock for a shaftwhich will not require manual operation by the operator.

Another object of this invention ts to provide improved locking meansfor a shaft which will operate automatically when the device is placedon end on a hard surface with the motor at rest.

.at 11 to flange 8.

2,702,098 Patented Feb. 15, 1955 2 bearing 19 in recess 20 of housing 11and threads 5 are provided on the end thereof. After the desired tool isslipped over threads 5 to rest against a collar 23, which pro ects veryslightly beyond housing front 6 to permit .rotation without interferencefrom the housing, a collar (not shown) is placed against the tool, and anut (not shown) is tightened on the threads to maintain the tool and thecollar securely in place. other extension 21 on the other side of motor2. Shaft extension 21 is rotatably supported by a bearing 7 fixed to astationary flange 8 which forms part of the end flange 9 of housing 17.A button-like member 10, preferably having a longitudinal axiscoincident with the longitudinal axis of shaft extension 21, as shown,is keyed As is shown in Fig. 3 keyways may extend around the entirecircumference of button 10, but fewer keyways will be equallyadvantageous.

The shaft extension 21 has one or more flat surfaces 12 formed thereon.An opening 13 inside button 10 is given the same form as shaft extension21 with flat surface (or surfaces) 12. A spring 14, hearing againstbutton 10 at one end, and against a flat member 15 held in recess 22 bybearing 7 at the other end, normally biases button 10 to its outwardposition; the outermost position of the button 10 is determined byflange 16 on the button.

Referring now to Fig. 2 the normal biased position of button 10 is shownin outline. .When pressure is applied to button 10, as by standingshaper on its end on a hard surface so that extension 18 of shaft 4 isuppermost, the button is depressed to the position shown, against theaction of spring 14. Opening 13 then slides over shaft extension 21.Since button 13 cannot rotate I it to its outer position, the travel ofbutton 10 being become apparent andthe invention will be betterunderstood by reference to the following description and theaccompanyingdrawing. The features of novelty which characterize this invention willbe pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification.

The objects of m invention may be reallzed, m one embodiment, throu theprovision of a member, pro ecting from the end of a hand shaper oppositefrom. the tool end, which may move axially of the shaft but which cannotrotate. This member is provided with a noncircular opening facing theshaft and the end of the shaft is given the same she as the opening.When the shaper is placed on end e member slides inwardly, the opening mthe end of the member'shdes over the projectitg end of the shaft, andthe shaft is thereby prevent from rotating. Removal of the shaper fromits last mentioned position releases the pressure forcing the memberinwardly. Biasmg means are prov1ded to cause the member to then returnto its original pro ecting position and the shaft is again free torotate since the formed end of the shaft no longer fits m the themember.

'In the drawing:

Fi l is a side view, partly m cross-section on the line l-l of Fig. 3,of a hand shaper embodying the novel locking means of this invention;

' Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in cross-section, of the novel lotgtingmeans of this invention in operative position; an

a Fig. 3 is an end view of that end of the shaper at which the novellocking means of this invention is located.

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawing there s shown a hand shapergenerally indicated at 1. An electric motor opemng-in i -on the part ofthe operator, and that limited by the location of flange l6. Shaft 4 isthen free to be rotated again by motor 2.

It is now clear that this invention provides an improved shaft lockmgarrangement which will lock the shaft 4 of hand shaper 1 without anyeffort or attention this will occur with the shaper m a convenientposition both for holding it and for manipulating a nut on threads 5.While the locking arrangement of this invention has been described inconnection with a hand shaper, it may be used to equal advantage in anyother comparable portable device where it is desirable for any reason toatiirmatively maintain station a normally rotatable shaft.

While the invention has been explained by describing a particularembodiment thereof it will be apparent that housing and a shaftrotatably mounted therein, improved 2 is mounted within shell 17 and.hasits rotor 3 mounted on a shaft 4 which has an extension 18 formounting a means for locking said shaft against rotation comprising amember projecting through said housing and slidably keyed thereto, saidmember having a non-circular opening formed opposite an end of saidshaft, said shaft end having a shape substantially similar to saidopening, said member and said shaft being so arranged that anapplication of external force'on said member will force the same oversaid shaft end to cause said shaft end and said opening to mate wherebysaid shaft is prevented from rotating, and means biasing said memberaway from said shaft end. g p

2. A hand tool comprising a substantiallycylindrical housing, a motormounted in said housing, a shaft extending from both sides of said motorand adapted to be rotated thereby, said shaft having an end extendingoutside one end of said housing, said shaft end being adapted to receivea tool, a button in said housing extending past the Shaft 4 also hasan-.

. a 3 end thereof which isopposite to said tool receiving shaft end,said button being slid'ablykeyed to said housing to prevent rotation,said shaftand said button having a common longitudinal axis, said buttonhaving formed therein opposite the other end of said shaft anon-circular opening, said other shaft end having a shape substantiallysimilar to said opening, said button and said other end of said shaftbeing arranged so that an application of force on said button from asource external to said housing will force said button over said otherend of said shaft to cause the same and said opening to mate wherebysaid shaft is prevented from rotating, and spring means biasing saidutton away from said other shaft end.- U

3. in combination with a device having a stationary housing and a shaftrotatably mounted therein, improved means for locking said shaft againstrotation comprising an axially slidable button extending through saidhousing and having a longitudinal axis coincident with the longitudinalaxis of said shaft, a flange on said housing surrounding said button,said button being keyed to said flange thereby to' prevent rotation ofsaid button, said button having a non-circularopening formed opposite anend of said shaft, said shaft end havlng a shape substantially similarto said opening whereby an application of external force along thelongitudinal axis of said button will force the same over said shaft endto cause said shaft end and said opening to mate whereby said shaft isprevented from rotgtllilg,ft and spring means biasing said button awayfrom an a 4. In combination with a .device having a stationary housingand a shaft rotatably mounted therein, improved means for locking saidshaft against rotation comprising an axially slidable button extendingthrough said housing and having a longitudinal axis coincident with thelongitudinal axis of said shaft, a flange on said housing surroundingsaid button, said button being keyed to said flange around its entirecircumference thereby-to prevent rotation of said button, said buttonhaving a partly circular opening formed opposite an end of said shaft,said shaft end having a shape substantial] similar said button andsaidshaft end being so arranged that an application of external forcealong the longitudinal axis of said button will/cause said button toslide toward said shaft to cause sa d shaft end and said opening to matewhereby said shaft is prevented from rotating, and coil spring meansbias ng said member away from said shaft.

5 In comblnatlon with an electrically driven hand tool havingastatronary housing and a shaft rotatably mounted therein, improvedmeans for locking said shaft against rotatlon com rlslng an axiallyslidable button normally pro ectlng ugh and beyond the outside of saidhousing, a angc on said housing surrounding said button, said buttonbelng keyed to said flange around its entire circumference therebyaflirmatively to prevent rotation of said button, said button having anopening whose cross-section comprises at least one flat surface oppositean end'of said shaft, sald shaft end having a shape substantiallysimilar to said openlng, sald button and said shaft end being soarranged that an apphcatlon of external force along the longltudlnalaxis of said button will cause said button to slide toward said shaft tocause said shaft end and said opening to mate whereby said shaft isaffirmatively prevented from rotating, a bearing adjacent said shaft endrotatably supporting said shaft, a flat member secured to said bearingand facing said button, and a coil spring between said member and saidbutton adapted to bias said button away from said shaft. 4

to said opening, 40

FOREIGN PATENTS 860,195 France Sept. 24, 1940

